Receptors and signaling mechanisms for B-lymphocyte activation, proliferation and differentiation – Insights from both in vivo and in vitro approaches

Abstract 

During the last three decades, a number of B-lymphocyte specific surface antigens have been defined some of which may also show activation/differentiation specific expression. Here, we review the various signaling events and the receptor-ligand interactions for B-cell development, activation and differentiation. Our discussion and presentation include reviewing the in vivo and in vitro mechanisms. Focus is on the experiments that give us valuable insights into the B cell signaling mechanisms in vitro. Three significant pathways in B-cell development – c-Kit, FLT-3 and IL-7 signaling pathways are elucidated upon. Both antigen dependent and antigen independent mechanisms of B cell stimulation are also reviewed.

Abbreviations: BCGF, B cell growth factor, BCR, B-cell receptor, BMT, bone marrow transplantation, CD, clusters of differentiation, CLP, common lymphoid progenitor, Con-A, Concanavalin-A, FLK-2, fetal liver kinase-2, FLT3, fms-like tyrosine kinase 3, GTPase, Ras guanosine triphosphatase, HSC, hematopoietic stem cell, IFN, interferon, IgD, immunoglobulin D, IgG, immunoglobulin G, IgM, immunoglobulin M, IL, interleukin, IVI, in vitro immunizations, LPS, lipopolysaccharides, MAb, monoclonal antibodies, MAP Kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, M-CSF, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, MDP, N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine, MF, mitogenic factors, MHC, major histocompatibility complex, PDGF-R, platelet-derived growth factor, PG, peptidoglycans, PHA, phytoheamoagglutin, PI3K, phosphoinositide-3 kinase, PLC-γ 1, phospholipase C-γ 1, pre-B, precursor-B, pro-B, progenitor-B, PWM, poke weed mitogen, Rag, recombination-activating gene, RBC, red blood cells, SF, steel factor, STK-1, human stem cell kinase-1, TCR, T-cell receptor, TD antigen, T-dependent antigen, TI antigen, T-independent antigen, TLR, toll-like receptors, TM, transmembrane, TRF, T cell replacing factor

Keywords: B-Cell development, Receptor, Signal-transduction, In vivo, In vitro, Mitogen